The Wall Street Skinny

Send us Fan MailMany ambitious young people (Kristen included) consider pursuing a number of prestigious careers outside the financial services industry, and medicine often tops the list.  Today we are joined by two incredibly accomplished doctors --- Dr. Bella Avanessian,  a board certified plastic surgeon with a focus on gender affirmation, and Dr. Nisha Narayanan, a pediatric ER doctor, double board certified in pediatrics and pediatrics ER. --- to get an in depth understanding of the educational path, the costs, the compensation, the sacrifices, and the payoffs of becoming a doctor in America.  We talk about the tough choices facing young people considering a career in medicine and the resulting brain drain out of the field.  Part 1 of a two-part series where we will subsequently explore the field of Healthcare PE, this is a must-listen episode for anyone curious to understand the role of doctors in the American healthcare system.   Dr Bella Avanessian is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming surgery. She is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Mount Sinai in New York. She received a BS in biomedical engineering and her medical degree from Brown University. She completed her residency training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. She then trained as the inaugural fellow in the nation’s first Transgender Surgery Fellowship at Mount Sinai. She is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).Dr. Nisha Narayanan specializes in pediatric emergency medicine. She is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Clinical Pediatrics at New York Presbyterian- Weill Cornell Medicine. After receiving her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, she obtained her medical degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine with a concentration in Health Policy. She completed her pediatrics residency at the University of California, Irvine- Children’s Hospital of Orange County and subsequently completed a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at the New York University School of Medicine- Bellevue Hospital Center. Dr. For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

This podcast episode spills the secrets on how compensation works on Wall Street, including how to negotiate your pay, how pay cycles work, what a bonus actually is, and how to position yourself for the optimal career path. It also explores the significance of staying informed about market trends and pay transparency, discusses the concept of bonuses and deferred stock, and provides insights into negotiation strategies for better compensation.

Send us Fan MailToday we take a deep dive into Private Equity  --- specifically, Lower Middle Market PE.  We sit down with experienced investor A.J. Tracey and discuss topics ranging from "what is the traditional path to PE?" to "what is a day in the life like?", and  "how important is the name of the college or firm you're coming from?".  We explore the differences between megafunds and MM/LMM PE as it pertains to investment strategy, nitty gritty of the job, and recruiting methods.  We also discuss the economics of pay, GP catchup, blind pools, when and how PE firms start collecting fees, and more. If you have ever considered working in PE or wanted to understand the world of Private Equity, THIS is the episode for you!A.J. is currently in investor with Cartess Investment Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm focused on investing with exceptional operators in the paper, packaging and food industries. Prior to joining Cartess, A.J. was a Principal with AGR Partners and a Vice President with Kainos Capital where he focused on investments in the agriculture and food industries. A.J. began his principal investing career as an Associate with CIC Partners. A.J. has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA from Brown University. A.J. resides in Southlake, TX with his wife and two children.For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Nate Wasson, co-founder of growth equity firm Hal-Bar Partners, explains the little-known but highly profitable niche of Private Equity 'search funds'. They discuss entrepreneurship through acquisition, the role of family offices, values-based investing, and Nate's personal journey. Also covered are the power of networking, the impact of tree canopies on urban centers, and decarbonization strategies.

In this podcast, the hosts engage in a friendly debate with comedian Anish Mitra about hedge fund returns in 2023. They discuss the performance of hedge funds compared to the S&P 500 and the changing landscape of fund performance. They explore the influence of celebrity portfolio managers and the benefits of a longer investment horizon.

Learn about the importance of networking and building authentic relationships. Discover tips on starting conversations, conveying negative information, and making networking requests. Hear about the benefits of using email templates and the significance of genuine connections. Get insights into LinkedIn etiquette and maximizing its impact. Plus, enjoy holiday chaos stories and a special offer for financial prep courses.

In this episode, Sujeet Indap, Financial Times writer and author of 'Caesars Palace Coup', discusses securitization, distressed debt investing, and the future of private credit. He shares insights from interviewing industry titans and delves into the role of women in private investing. The podcast also covers the high-profile leverage buyout of Caesars Palace, the complexities of its capital structure, and the challenges of writing a book on a controversial event.

In this podcast, Sujeet Indap and Max Frumes, authors of the book Caesars Palace Coup, discuss the distress-for-control maneuvers and questionable asset transfers that Apollo spearheaded after the $30bn Leveraged Buyout of Caesars in 2008. They explore the showdown between Private Equity titans and creditors, highlighting the manipulation of legal and capital structures. Other topics include holiday plans, dealing with water damage, LBO structure, capital structure and risk in investments, Apollo's influence, Opco's financial struggles, and strategies in taking on Apollo in a distressed debt and restructuring situation.

In this episode, the hosts do a deep dive into a $30bn LBO of Caesars Palace by Apollo and TPG. They discuss the deal structure, financing terms, and motivations of private equity titans. The podcast explores leverage buyouts, restructuring, and the roles of parent company, operating company, and subsidiary. It also provides an overview of LBO structure and the background of the deal.

Send us Fan MailInterest rates drive everything in the markets, and expectations of rate cuts or hikes by the Fed can move the markets and make or break fortunes.  But how do we know what 'the market' expects?  In today's skinny mini we break down the simple truth behind where numbers like 'the market expects there is a 72% chance of a rate cut' comes from and why the current situation is wildly contradictary.For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.